The Details

Hawaiian Holdings, the parent company of Hawaiian Airlines, is launching new passenger flights to the islands of Molokai and Lanai in 2013.

To service the routes, the company recently bought its first ATR 42 twin-turboprop aircraft, and it has a purchase agreement in place to acquire a second plane to be delivered in November.

When configured for neighbor island use, the planes will seat 44 to 50 passengers.

“These are the ideal aircraft for service to the less populated islands in our state,” said Mark Dunkerley, president and CEO of Hawaiian Holdings. “This new service will complement the B717 jet service offered by Hawaiian Airlines as well as provide the additional service that Molokai and Lanai residents have been requesting.”

The new turboprop service will have its own name and brand identity and operate separately from Hawaiian Airlines, which flies to the mainland U.S. and several international routes.